A video made for Paid Memberships Pro with a little something for everyone.

I make a bunch of video tutorials for Paid Memberships Pro. The tutorials are usually a recording of my computer screen, demonstrating how to use the plugin.

There are a lot of tips and tricks you can implore when making video tutorials that either help speed up the process or make your videos look and feel more polished.

Smooth Scrolling

One day, whilst filming, I wanted to record a shot that involved a homepage and a nice smooth scrolling action. This might not seem like a big deal but can be very noticeable if not done. Try using your mouse or trackpad and scroll down a webpage trying to keep it as smooth and uninterrupted as possible.

It’s not that easy, right?

Using JavaScript to Smooth Scroll A Webpage

Here is an amazing guide, that involves bookmarking a bit of JavaScript to your browser. When you are on the page that you want to smoothly scroll through, you select the bookmark, set your parameters. In no time at all, you’ll be scrolling smoothly down that homepage as if your mouse dropped into a pile of silky, soft butter, hmm.

Code Example

Paul Rand – arguably one of the greatest graphic designers of the century, once gave the legendary Steve Jobs an answer to a question about a logo that Steve wanted Paul to design for his company, NeXT.

In an 1993 interview, Steve Jobs tells of his encounter with working with Paul Rand, the famous graphic designer who worked with companies such as Ford, American Express and IBM to mention but a few.

While being interviewed Steve gives us some insight into what it was like to work with Paul Rand. When asked about what it was like to work with Paul, Steve gave an amazing answer that I believe will benefit all creatives everywhere.

Steve Jobs

“I asked him if he would come up with some options.”

“And he said, no.”

“I will solve your problem for you.”

“And you will pay me.”

“You don’t have to use the solution.”

“If you want options, go talk to other people.”

“But I will solve your problem for you, the best way I know how.”

“Use it or not, that’s up to you. You’re the client.”

“But you pay me.”

Steve Jobs: “There was a clarity about the relationship that was refreshing.”

“Paul was one of the most professional people, I have ever worked with.”

Be confident.

Be yourself.

Be confident.

It is not about mimicking someone else. Rather, solve the clients problem. The best way YOU know how.

Make no mistake. This is not a ticket to an easy life or career. Paul Rand was a deep thinker and writer. He worked hard, was self aware, confident and was comfortable being himself.

You and I can learn a lot from, Paul.

Watch the interview here.

Cal Newport gives a ton of insight on the importance of having focused deep work session to truly get meaningful work done. If you enjoy learning about human behavior and how to level up yourself as a productive person, I would totally recommend this book to you.

Shutdown Routine

One tip, that helps to get effective work done, is to turn yourself off at the end of each day- this is called a Shutdown Routine. In a nutshell, overworking and constantly thinking about work can lead you to underperform in your job the next day. If you’re not careful this can become a habit where you find yourself constantly working and constantly overworking.

Surprise, surprise! You need to take care of your self in order to show up best for your job, family, and community. A shutdown routine can play a role in helping you perform better.

A shutdown routine is a set of task’s that follow a certain sequence at the end of each workday that lets your brain know – you’re done working. Without it, it is incredibly easy to work late into the night, not be present when you are with your family and have your mind running circles around you while you’re trying to sleep.

Be sure to turn the lights off before you leave.

A few years ago, I had a desk job at a heavy engineering company that did a lot of fabrication work for mines around South Africa. At the end of each day, about 15 – 20 minutes before “knock-off”, I would start my “shutdown routine” – at the time I didn’t call it that. It was very natural for me to do it and I found that if I missed this little routine, I would be flustered completely flustered and no matter how hard I tried, just couldn’t stop thinking about work and what I had to do the next day.

This is what I would do at the end of each day:

Put on some music. Whatever I felt like at the time. This could be rock or something more relaxing like indie folk. (optional)

Review my to-do list of the day.

Start a new to-do list – I am a traditionalist, so a good ol’ pen and paper does the trick for me.

Move any tasks that I did not finish that day to my new to do list.

Add any new to-do tasks that came up during the day to my list.

Check my emails one last time to see if there was anything I missed – if so, add them to the list. Tomorrow is another day.

One final brain dump – if there was anything in my mind that was taking up “mental ram”, I would add it to my list.

My favorite – tidy up my desk. There is nothing like leaving your office in a de-cluttered state. Imagine coming in the next day, to a beautifully arranged desk, ready to start the day.

When I did this – and I rarely missed it – I found I could truly turn my mind off. Having a plan for the next day and clearing all work from my mental ram helped me go home, not bombarded with thoughts about work.

Don’t give up. Keep trying. No matter how small just keep taking one step forward.

Make time for yourself. Alone. Thinking time. No devices, books or media.

Be mindful.

Work to make each day great. A few tiny simple victories can equivalate to the most amazing day ever.

Start each day with journaling. Write down what the most amazing yet reasonable day would be and to you and make it happen, captain.

Go on that run.

Life is out there. Waiting for you.

For those of you wondering about what happened to the dolphin, I am happy to report that it has been successfully returned to the ocean. I was fortunate enough to find the video of the rescue and release of this magnificent creature here: